Portable support



, -Y 1944- E. H. HURLEY PORTABLE SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 10,1942 Attorney May 30, 1944.

H. HURLEY PORTABLE SUPPORT Fild Nov. 10, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 27 28Iflg- H- IP15- E n.

E? H H INVENYGR Patented May 30, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEPORTABLE SUPPORT Earl H. Hurley, Emporium, Pa.

Application November 10, 1942, Serial No. 465,151

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improvements in adjustable portablesupports designed primarily for use in supporting plumbing pipes,electric light fixtures or the like, the primary object of the inventionbeing to provide means which may readily and easily be secured inposition to support various types of articles without the use of nails,bolts or the like and which may be easily removed.

In particular, my invention has for an object, the production ofimproved channel sections and cooperating locking parts to the end thatthe sections may be more easily connected and locked together in anefllcient manner and which mreover may be easily stamped out andproduced.

A further important object of my invention is the provision of anattachment saddle in combination with the support whereby electricaloutlet boxes and similar devices may be supported from the support.

Other prominent objects are to provide a device of this character whichmay be easily adjusted, adapting it for use between, walls or supportingbeams of various widths and which when placed in position will besecurely held in place and cannot become displaced under the weight ofthe article supported thereby, the weight in fact increasing thesecurity of the support.

With the above noted and other objects in view which may appear as thedescription proceeds the invention resides in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of cooperating parts as hereinafter morespecifically set forth, claimed and shown in the accompanying drawingsforming part of this application, and in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational view illustrating the support so placedbetween adjacent walls or supporting beams prior to the moving of thesections of the support to their active supporting 7 within the surface.

attachment saddle mounted on the support and showing an electricaloutlet box attached thereto.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the attachment saddle.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modification of thesupport.

Fig. 10 is a plan view thereof.

Referring more in detail to th drawings in which similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several view itwill be seen that the invention consists of a pair of sections I0 and iI, constructed of channel bar material, the section in, being wider thanthe section II, so that the section II, may fit in the section III, andslide longitudinally thereof.

The base portion of the outer ends of each section are extended drawn toa, point to form a piercing prong 02 which, together with the shouldersformed by the extremities of the side walls of the channel sectionsprovide means whereby when the prongs are forced into the walls. beamsor the like the support is rigidly held in pos tion the said shouldersbeing designed to restrict undesirable movement of the prongs Thisembodiment is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, in detail. The prongs aredesigned to spread the grain.

The section i0, is formed with a tongue 83, extendin from the base atthe opposite or inner extremity in an upwardly inclined manner, the saidtongue preferably being stamped in the base centrally of the side wallwith a concavo-convex surface for easier engagement with the openings ofthe complementary section to be hereinafter explained in detail. Nearthe extremities of the side walls of the member i0 and directly oppositeeach other are punched-out projections ll, adapted to engage withlongitudinally disposed grooves I5 in the complementary section when thesections are moved into longitudinal alinement. The curved tongue l3,will withstand great shearing stresses.

The longitudinally disposed grooves l5, extend the length of the sectionII, in the outer face of the side walls arranged to receive theprojections l4, when the sections are snapped together irrespective ofthe total length desired. The base of the section II is provided with aplurality of openings l6 stamped through the base, the openingsconsisting of a tri-sided cut with the metal bounded by the out beingraised or stamped upward to form a guiding channel ll, for the purposeof directing the tongue into the opening at a predetermined positionwhen the sections are locked.

In the modification of Figures '7, 9 and 10, the sections 20, and 2 I,have the inner channel member 2| provided with projections 22, similarto the projections H. and the outer section or channel member 20, isprovided with longitudinal grooves 23, in the inner face of the sidewalls but otherwise similar to the grooves I. The outer ends of thesections 20 and 2|, are formed to provide forked prongs and shoulders25, disposed directly above the prongs as indicated in Figures 9 and 10,are designed to engage the wall or the like when the prongs are forcedinto same. The shoulders 25, may be complemented by transverselyextending flanges 28, which are bent to the side and formed from theexcess material above the prongs to prevent the shoulders from sinkinginto the wood.

The member 20, is provided on its inner extremity with a flat taperedtongue 21, upwardly inclined and preferably formed integral with thebase 01' the member 20. The tongue 21, extends through any one oi aplurality of orifices 281, disposed in longitudinal alignment throughthe base of the member 2|, in an angular position so thatdownwardvertical movement is restricted without impairing upwardvertical movement of the support when it is desired to disengage andremove same.

The attachment saddle of Figure 8, is adapted to rest upon the supportshown in each illustration and consists of a strip of metal bent atright angles and on the bias at each end to form a narrow top portion28, and depending side portions 30, which have horizontal basil edges 3|and depending tabs 32, at the outer extremity of the said basil edges.The tabs 32, are enlarged or provided with a toe at their free extremityand are curled back on themselves as shown by the left hand tab inFigure 8, so that they may be inserted through standard apertures in thetop of an outlet box 33, or the like. When the tabs are disposed throughthe apertures in the outlet boxes they are straightened as shown by theright hand tab of Figure 8, so that the outlet boxes are firmly securedto the tab. The said saddle is of a predetermined size to correspond tothe universal dimensions and spacing of the the support when the tabsare straightened, thus I assuring rigidity of the assembly.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to--the construction shownand described, I have provided a simple readily adjustable support ofthe character described which may be set for length between twosupporting surfaces and moved to its active supporting position bymoving the inner ends oi the sections downwardly into direct contact inalignment with each other and which may be readily disengaged from thissemi-locked position. It will also be noted that the device includes anattachment saddle for carrying various types of articles and by makingthe sections of light attractive material the support may be used foroflice or household purposes and the like such as for carrying clotheshangers.

It is believed that the construction and advantages of the device may beapparent from the foregoing paragraphs takenin conjunction with theaccompanying drawings without further detailed description.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed it isunderstood that minor changes in the details of construction,combination and arrangement of cooperating parts may be resorted towithin the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

I claim:

A portable support comprising inner and outer sections said innersection. having openings formed therein, a concavo-convex tongue on theinner end of the outer section adapted to engage in an opening of theinner section, pivotally connecting the sections, and projections on theouter section adapted to extend into longitudinal grooves on the innersection securing the sections in their extended positions, and spurs onthe outer ends of said sections adapted to be embedded into a supportingsurface.

EARL H. HURLEY.

